The University of Mississippi Athletics
Carol Ross' Letter To The Fans
4/26/2007 | Women's Basketball
Four years ago, I was given an opportunity few coaches receive to coach at my alma mater. Pete Boone gave me the privilege of coming back home to Ole Miss. There has been no greater responsibility and honor than to serve as the caretaker of the Ole Miss women's basketball program.
My responsibilities as head coach of this program were two fold: to give back to Ole Miss and to restore Lady Rebel basketball to national prominence. Today, I resign as the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Ole Miss confident my mission has been completed.
I was fortunate that two of my Ole Miss teammates, Peggie Gillom-Granderson and Renee Ladner, wanted to take on this exciting challenge with me. We all felt as alumni of this great University that we had an obligation to put Ole Miss back in its rightful place among the nation's elite.
Four years later, we've had four consecutive post-season appearances, advanced to the Elite Eight, and finished the season ranked in the Top Ten. This season we had two players sign with WNBA teams and Armintie Price was named our second Kodak/WBCA All-American. This program is back where it should be on solid ground with some of the best student-athletes in the country competing for Ole Miss. The future is bright for this program. Our young women are proud to wear the Ole Miss uniform, and they will continue to give everything they have to make us proud of them.
As an alumna of Ole Miss, I know we never resign from the responsibilities of "caretaking". You never stop "caring" for a program you truly love. I leave my responsibilities as head coach but I will always be supportive of Ole Miss women's basketball.
Four years ago, I had retired from coaching and was exploring other career opportunities. When Ole Miss called me, I detoured from that journey to come home. Today, I am retiring from coaching again, and it is time for me to start back down the road of exploring other opportunities. I don't know yet where that road will take me but I am sure it will be sports-related since it's in my blood.
I want to thank Chancellor Khayat, Pete Boone, and Lynnette Johnson for giving me the opportunity to come home and coach at Ole Miss, my staff, our team, the Ole Miss family, and my family.
Sincerely,
Carol Ross
